I know it a bit of a longshot, but does anyone know anything about the James Scott Skinner hornpipe "The Mathematician". Anything like (for example) when it was written, who it was written for (assuming it actually was written for a mathematician) or why it was written if it wasn't written for a specific person, etc etc would be much appreciated. Even (possibly) trivial stuff like musicians who particularly liked/hated it, and anyone who recorded it could come in useful.
Or if anyone can point me in the direction of any books, publishings or people (or institutions) who might know, that would also be really useful.
Some of our younger members might not know what a slide rule was.I suppose that if Dick made the remark nowadays he would say that Scott Skinner composed with a pocket calculator.
Dafydd, just cos I'm one of the younger members doesn't mean I don't know how to use a slide rule ya know. I sat the maths part of my A Level general studies exam using a slide rule (although I did fail that section spectacularly cos I forgot to take any log tables, so perhaps you're right ! )
I think criticism of JSS is a bit overdone. The Mathemtician is not so hard, it just requires some up the neck positions As the actress (Linda Lovelace presumably) said to the bishop.
I love his "Mrs Scott Skinner" and I just ignore those at the session who tell me that he had Mrs Scott Skinner committed to an asylum for no better reason than he wanted to shag some young new partner.
James Scott Skinner
James Scott Skinner
I know it a bit of a longshot, but does anyone know anything about the James Scott Skinner hornpipe "The Mathematician". Anything like (for example) when it was written, who it was written for (assuming it actually was written for a mathematician) or why it was written if it wasn't written for a specific person, etc etc would be much appreciated. Even (possibly) trivial stuff like musicians who particularly liked/hated it, and anyone who recorded it could come in useful.
Or if anyone can point me in the direction of any books, publishings or people (or institutions) who might know, that would also be really useful.
Many thanks,
Andy
# Posted on April 18th 2006 by Andy V
Re: James Scott Skinner
Have a look at http://www.abdn.ac.uk/scottskinner/introduction.shtml
# Posted on April 18th 2006 by blitzen
Re: James Scott Skinner
More specifically: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/scottskinner/display.php?ID=JSS0618
# Posted on April 19th 2006 by kkrell
Re: James Scott Skinner
MG *particularly hates* it.
# Posted on April 19th 2006 by Back for a while
Re: James Scott Skinner
So does Dick Gaughan apparently
# Posted on April 19th 2006 by Bren
Re: James Scott Skinner
Dick Gaughan once said that Scott Skinner composed with a slide rule.
# Posted on April 19th 2006 by dafydd
Re: James Scott Skinner
Some of our younger members might not know what a slide rule was.I suppose that if Dick made the remark nowadays he would say that Scott Skinner composed with a pocket calculator.
# Posted on April 20th 2006 by dafydd
Re: James Scott Skinner
Dafydd, just cos I'm one of the younger members doesn't mean I don't know how to use a slide rule ya know.
I sat the maths part of my A Level general studies exam using a slide rule (although I did fail that section spectacularly cos I forgot to take any log tables, so perhaps you're right ! 
)
# Posted on April 20th 2006 by Andy V
Re: James Scott Skinner
If he composed using a slide rule, why did he get a hornpipe?
I'm thinking of getting a Dovetail Jig for my router..
# Posted on April 20th 2006 by LastToFinish
Re: James Scott Skinner
I did say some of the younger members.
# Posted on April 21st 2006 by dafydd
Re: James Scott Skinner
I think criticism of JSS is a bit overdone. The Mathemtician is not so hard, it just requires some up the neck positions As the actress (Linda Lovelace presumably) said to the bishop.
I love his "Mrs Scott Skinner" and I just ignore those at the session who tell me that he had Mrs Scott Skinner committed to an asylum for no better reason than he wanted to shag some young new partner.
# Posted on April 22nd 2006 by Bren